Pallet tiering frame with positive lock to pallet



March ,1970 L. F. SKUBIC PALLET TIERING FRAME WITH POSITIVE LOCK TO PALLET Filed June 14. 1968 United States Patent omee 3,500,770 Patented Mar. 17, 1970 3,500,770 PALLET TIERING FRAME WITH POSITIVE LOCK TO PALLET Leroy F. Skubic, Long Beach, Ind., assignor to The Paltier Corporation, a corporation of Illinois Filed June 14, 1968, Ser. No. 737,137 Int. Cl. B65d 19/16 US. Cl. 108-53 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pallet tiering frame which may be positively locked to a pallet with solid top deck or standard type spaced boards so that the frame may safely support a plurality of stacked pallets and withstand sudden impact forces without unintended disengagement from the pallet. The uprights of the tiering frame each have a mounting bracket with a transverse finger adapted to engage the underside of the pallet deck boards. Displaceable tie rods secure the lower end portions of the frame uprights against relative movement so that said mounting brackets are maintained in positive engagement with the pallet. The tie rods may be either slidably or detachably displaced to permit relative movement between the lower ends of the uprights and ready disengagement of the frame from said pallet.

The present invention relates generally to load supporting pallet tiering frames, and more particularly to improvements in mounting and securing such frames on a pallet.

It is an object of the invention to provide a pallet tiering frame which may be quickly and easily mounted on or removed from a pallet, yet adapted to be positively locked to the pallet so as to safely support the weight of a plurality of loaded pallets in stacked relation and withstand sudden impact forces without unintended disengagement from the pallet.

Another object is to provide a pallet tiering frame as characterized above which may be positively locked to a conventional pallet or pallet with solid top deck without the necessity for modifying the construction'of the pallet by forming apertures or the like and without the need for fastening pins or screws.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a pallet tiering frame of the above type which is of simple and durable construction and thus economical to make and use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a pallet tiering frame embodying the present invention with one end frame unit disengaged from the pallet and the top rails which connect the end frame units broken 011;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pallet tiering frame of FIGURE 1 completely assembled;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the connection between the tie rod and upright of the tiering frame shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIGS. 4-7 are modified forms of connections between the tiering frame upright and tie rod.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative forms, certain specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described herein. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but, on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, equivalents and uses falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring more specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2, the invention is there exemplified in an illustrative tiering frame 10 mounted on a conventional wood pallet 11. In this instance, the pallet 11 includes a plurality of laterally spaced parallel stringers 12 with deck boards 14 fastened transversely to the stringers 12 on either side thereof. The stringers 12 are positioned at each end of the deck boards with one in the middle, although the number of stringers and deck boards may vary depending upon the loads, and usages for which the pallet is designed. By virtue of the present invention, it will be understood that solid decking consisting of a single platform may be used in place of the deck boards.

The tiering frame 10 may be readily assembled and mounted on the pallet 11 for supporting additional pallets in tiered relation. The illustrative tiering frame 10 includes a pair of opposed end frame units 15, each com prising a pair of spaced tubular columns or uprights 16 connected by a horizontal cross bar 18 Welded or otherwise secured to the uprights intermediate their ends. Corresponding uprights of opposite end frame units are detachably connected at their upper ends by top rails 19. The top rails 19 may be formed from structural angles or tubing or other suitable shapes, and are provided with depending sleeves 20 adjacent each end which telescopically and removably receive the upper ends of the tubular uprights 16. The top rails 19 serve to space and brace the upper ends of the side frame units and also form a supporting surface upon which the next pallet in the tier may rest.

In accordance with the invention, the tiering frame is adapted to be positively locked to the pallet so that the frame may withstand sudden impact forces, while supporting the weight of a plurality of stacked pallets, without unintended disengagement from the pallet. To this end, a mounting bracket 21, capable of engaging a corner of the pallet, is attached to the base of each upright 16. The brackets 21 each include a flat transverse web portion 22 secured to the upright 16 in any conventional manner, such as by welding. The web 22 presents a substantially flat surface to the face of the deck board 14 so that vertical components of the load experienced by the upright are disturbed over a greater area than the diameter of the upright.

To provide lateral support for the brackets 21 when mounted on the pallet, each bracket has a pair of depending flanges 24, 25 perpendicularly disposed so as to embrace the corner of the pallet deck. To facilitate a positive and secure engagement with the pallet, the flange 25 of each bracket is formed with a transverse inwardly directed finger 26 which embraces the underside of the deck 14 immediately adjacent the outer pallet stringer 12. The distance between the bracket flanges 24, 25 is made only slightly greater than the thickness of the stringer 12 to minimize lateral play of the bracket when it is mounted on the pallet.

In carrying out the invention, displaceable tie rods secure the lower portions of the uprights against relative movement when the tiering frame is mounted on the pallet so that the brackets are maintained in rigid and positive engagement with the pallet deck boards. When the tiering frame is to be dismounted the tie rods are readily displaceable to permit separation of the legs of each unit and disengagement of the brackets. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, a tie rod 30 is disposed between the legs 16 of each side frame unit 15 and has looped ends 31 slidably surrounding the respective uprights. As shown in FIG. 1, to assemble a side frame unit 15 on the pallet, the tie bar 30 is moved up to about the height of the cross bar 18 which permits the uprights to be pulled apart sufficiently for the transverse bracket fingers 26 to pass the outer deck boards 14. The H-shaped end frame units 15 may be made of metal tubing or other common tiering frame material which permits the springlike separation of the uprights in mounting the unit on the pallet. The resilient qualities of the unit also facilitate engagement of the brackets on the deck boards when the frame is in proper position.

To prevent relative movement between the legs and assure rigid and positive engagement of the brackets 21 on the pallet 11 after the brackets 21 are in place, the tie bar 30 is slid down to a position adjacent the top of the deck boards 14 as shown in FIG. 2. After both side frame units 15 are in proper position, the top rails 19 are assembled to connect the corresponding uprights 16 of the opposed frame units. It can be seen that the tiering frame may be readily disassembled by the reverse procedure.

It is apparent that when the tiering frame of the present invention is mounted on the pallet the brackets positively engage the pallet decks. In the illustrated embodiment, the web 22 and finger 26 of each bracket support the frame against vertical forces, the finger 26 and side flange 24 of each bracket secure the frame against forces directed transversely of the stringers 12, and the tie rod 30 secures the brackets against forces directed axially of the stringers 12.

Alternatively, a detachable tie bar may secure the uprights against relative movement rather than the slidable tie bar discussed above. For example, FIGS. 4-6 show various ways of detachably connecting the tie bar to the lower portion of the upright. In FIG. 4 an upright 16a is formed with a keyhole slot 35 slightly above the bracket 21a and the tie rod 30a has a ball end 36 which may be easily engaged in and removed from the slot 35. In FIG. 5, the lower portion of an upright 16b has a vertical slot 37 and the end of the tie rod 30b has a right angle bend 38 which can be inserted through in slot 37 and lowered for engagement. In FIG. 6, a tie rod 30c has a threaded end 39 which can be passed through an aperture in the upright 16c and be secured to the upright by a nut 40.

Another modified form of detachable tie rod connection isshown in FIG. 7. In this case, the mounting bracket 21d has an upturned flange 41 and a threaded end 42 of the tie rod 30d is secured to the flange 41 by a nut 44.

In view of the foregoing, it can be seen that the tiering frame of the present invention may be positively locked to a conventional pallet without the need for modifying the construction of the pallet by forming apertures or the like and without the need for fastening pins or screws to the pallet. Thus, while being capable of rigid and positive engagement with the pallet, the tiering frame may be quickly and easily installed on or removed from the pallet.

I claim as my invention:

1. For use with a pallet having a deck transversely secured to a plurality of stringer members, a load supporting tiering frame comprising, in combination, a pair of end frame units each having two uprights joined by a connecting crossbar, top rails releasably connecting the uprights of opposite end frame units, a mounting bracket at the lower end of each of said uprights for releasably mounting said upright on said pallet, said brackets each having depending side portions embracing a corner of said deck, one said side portion of each bracket having a transverse finger engaging the underside of said deck, a displaceable tie rod interposed between the two uprights of each end frame unit securing the lower ends of the two uprights against relative movement so that the mounting brackets of said uprights are maintained in positive engagement with said pallet deck, and said tie rods being displaceable to permit relative spreading movement between the lower ends of the two uprights of each end frame unit and disengagement of said brackets from said pallet.

2. The tiering frame of claim 1 in which each said tie rod has looped ends slidably surrounding the respective uprights between which the tie rod is interposed, and said tie rod is slidable from a lowered position adjacent said pallet deck which positively locks said brackets to said pallet to a raised position which permits relative spreading movement between the lower ends of said end frame uprights and disengagement of said bracket from said pallet.

3. The tiering frame of claim 1 in which said tie rods are detachably connected to the lower portions of said uprights.

4. The tiering frame of claim 3 in which said tie rods are formed with ball-shaped ends, and said uprights have keyhole slots for detachably receiving said tie rod ends.

5. The tiering frame of claim 3 in which the ends of said tie rods are formed with right angle bends, and said uprights have vertical slots for detachably receiving said tie rod ends.

6. The tiering frame of claim 3 in which the end of said tie rods are threaded, said uprights each having an aperture through which the end of said tie rod may pass, and detachable threaded fastening members adapted to engage the threaded ends of said tie rod and secure said tie rod in position between said uprights 7. The tiering frame of claim 3 in which said brackets each are formed with an upturned flange, and said tie rods detachably engage said upturned flanges to prevent relative movement between the brackets of each said end frame unit.

8. The tiering frame of claim 1 in which said end frame units are mounted on said pallet in parallel relation to said pallet stringers, said finger and side portions of each bracket being adapted to engage the end of a pallet stringer and secure the bracket against forces directed transversely to said stringer, and said tie rod of each end frame unit being in parallel relation to said strigners and adapted to secure said brackets against forces directed axially of said stringers.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,994,500 8/1961 Fraser et al l08-53 3,159,116 12/1964 Skubic 10853 3,168,060 2/1965 Farley 10853 BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner G. O. FINCH, Assistant Examiner 

